Characteristics at presentation and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the elderly

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 243 - 249
• Main Authors: Pignata, Sandro, Gallo, Ciro, Daniele, Bruno, Elba, Silvana, Giorgio, Antonio, Capuano, Gaetano, Adinolfi, Luigi Elio, De Sio, Ilario, Izzo, Francesco, Farinati, Fabio, Naja, Carlo Del, Stanzione, Maria, Castiglione, Fabiana, Marone, Giampiero, Cuomo, Oreste, Felder, Martina, Gaeta, Giovanni Battista, Maio, Ermelinda De, Maio, Massimo Di, Signoriello, Giuseppe, Perrone, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.09.2006
• Subjects: CLIP score; Elderly; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Prognosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; CLIP score; Prognosis; Elderly
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2006.01.002

To describe the characteristics at presentation and the outcome of elderly patients (≥70 years old) with HCC, a retrospective analysis using a CLIP database was performed. The database included 650 patients. χ2-test, logistic and Cox model were applied. Baseline characteristics and stage were similarly among elderly ( n = 158) and non-elderly ( n = 492) patients. More elderly patients did not receive any local treatment (56% versus 38%, p < 0.0001). Age and CLIP score were independently predictive of the odds of locoregional treatment. Prognosis was worse for elderly patients with a hazard ratio of death of 1.49 (95% CI 1.20–1.86) at multivariable analysis. The survival difference disappeared when patients were compared within each treatment group, suggesting a close link between undertreatment and shorter survival. Elderly patients with HCC have a worse prognosis compared to non-elderly ones. Such difference seems the consequence of undertreatment.